7 Day Skin Recovery

Like many women, my skin can be a bit contrary. I’m pretty good when it comes to skincare and diet; however, it’s been years since I can honestly say that I’ve had a blemish-free face…until today that is.

I was lucky enough to grab a last-minute holiday in the South of France last week, and upon returning to my home mirror yesterday, I noticed that my face was clear, bright and entirely blemish-free. In the hopes of keeping it that way, I’m going to continue with a few ifestyle changes that I made last week.

• Double cleanse instead of single-cleanse: I double-cleansed my face every evening with a Dermalogica cleansing oil, followed by my usual cleanser.
• Muslin cloth instead of a facecloth: Usually I only cleanse once with a facecloth, but I found that a clean muslin cloth works far more efficiently. You can buy a pack of 3 in The Body Shop for around €6.
• Massage skin with moisturiser: Instead of slapping on my moisturiser in a hurry, I massaged it into my skin for at least 60 seconds.
• 2 litres of water per day: In Autumn/Winter, I usually only drink 1 litre of water. In the warmer weather, I drank 2+ litres of water a day, which really hydrated my skin.
• 8 hours sleep: At home, my sleeping patterns can be a bit chaotic. Whilse in France, I got 8 hours sleep every night, and felt all the better for it.
• Antioxidants & Omega 3: I ate plenty of fresh oily fish and drank loads of fresh fruit juices whilst away. Not only does my skin look better, I feel better too.
• Sunshine: I really believe that the sun on my skin did it the power of good. In Ireland, I spend a lot of my time indoors and rarely see the sun at it’s highest. Did you know that many Irish people are deficient in Vitamin D (which is the only Vitamin that you can get from the sun)? I’m going to start taking a Vitamin D supplement, which will also help in the absorption of calcium, thus preventing osteoporosis in the future.

The Body Shop Muslin Cloths | Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse Cleansing Oil

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Di Palomo Dry Oil

Anyone who follows my Facebook page will have seen me mention dry oils (non-greasy body moisturising oils) a couple of times lately – specifically, my quest to track down Roger & Gallet’s NEW Bois D’Orange Huile Sublime, which currently has Irish beauty editors in a spin. Apparently it smells delicious, and is extremely nourishing; however, I’ve yet to track it down, despite it apparently being available in 80 pharmacies throughout Ireland. If you know of any stockists, please do mention them in the comment box below! In the meantime, I’ve ordered a bottle from Amazon and I’ll post a review here when I eventually get to try it out.

The elusive Bois D’Orange Huile Sublime, by Roger & Gallet

Whilst in pursuit of the elusive Bois D’Orange, I happened across a lone bottle of Di Palomo Sensual Dry Oil tucked away in a quiet corner of my local pharmacy.

Di Palomo Sensual Dry Oil

Previous to this purchase, I had never heard of Di Palomo (and a subsequent Google search leads me to believe that it’s a well-kept secret) but I decided to buy it on a whim on the basis that the packaging looked pretty (this has been my downfall on many occasions) and it was priced at a very reasonable €13.99 for 100ml.

To my utmost surprise, this stuff is lovely!

• Scent: I’m useless at scents. I couldn’t distinguish a top note from a bottom note, wood from floral, dry from crisp etc. However, the Di Palomo website depicts the fragrance as follows: “Fall in love with this modern oriental fragrance with a powdery amber background. Top notes of bergamot, neroli and cassis with a hint of black pepper and coffee. Middle notes of jasmin, rose and dianthus. Base notes are warm and sensual with a blend of musk, amber and vanilla.” This of course means nothing to me, but you might have better nasal qualities than I! All in all, what matters to me is whether it smells nice, and yes, to me, it does. It’s a gentle scent which smells even nicer after a few hours. *Do bear in mind that fragrance is very much a personal thing so what I like, you might hate.
• Ingredients: There’s no ingredients list on the bottle, suffice to say that it contains jojoba oil and vitamin E.
• Wearability: A little spritz of this goes a long way. It dries almost instantly and moisturises beautifully.

All in all, a good success I reckon. I’d be curious to see has anyone else tried (or even heard of) Di Palomo? Likewise, do you use dry oils, and if so, do you have a favourite brand?

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Camouflage Red Cheeks

READER STYLEMMA

“Hi Caroline, I hope you can help me with a make-up problem. I have really red cheeks and a few broken capillaries as well for good measure. The thing is, I hate wearing heavy foundation but I feel that I have to as otherwise I look roasted! I’ve tried using the ‘green creams’ under my foundation but they just leave a green tint on my face – which is worse than the red! Is there anything that I can do to hide or eliminate the redness?”

CAROLINE’S SOLUTION

Reader, you’re certainly not alone in this issue. Thanks a combination of genetics, climate and environmental factors, Irish people are particularly prone to developing red cheeks. Be aware that redness is a sign of sensitivity so before you go trying to cover it up, you need to get to the root of the problem and see can it be alleviated.

First Things First

• GP Check: The first thing I suggest is to check with your doctor that there isn’t an underlying medical condition or skin ailment which is causing your skin to become inflamed.
• Skincare routine: Secondly, I suggest that you look at your skincare routine and see whether it might be exacerbating the sensitivity. Perhaps you have an allergy to certain cosmetic products, or perhaps the products or techniques that you are using are too abrasive for your skin (e.g. some facial scrubs can be very harsh). There are many brands on the market nowadays which help sensitive skin e.g. La Roche Posay, E45 etc. Perhaps you might consider using products with 100% natural ingredients. Your GP or pharmacist will guide you as to what’s best for your skin type.
• SPF: Thirdly, make sure that you ALWAYS wear a minimum SPF15 on your skin. If you’re an outdoorsy type, consider an even higher SPF.
• Diet: Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Make-up Guidelines

• Base: Before you apply foundation, apply a yellow-based colour corrector to the red areas. My favourite is the Master Corrector (in “Yellow”) by Giorgio Armani* (pictured below). Apply sparingly using a concealer/foundation brush. It will look a little yellowy at first, but by the time you have applied your foundation over it, your skin will have the desired neutral tone.
• Foundation: In terms of foundation, you don’t need to wear a heavy formula once you have used a corrector underneath. Choose a yellowy shade rather than a pinky shade. A yellow base will cancel out your natural redness whereas a pink base will emphasise it. Secure your foundation with a translucent powder.
• Blush: The rule regarding blush is ‘less is more’. Avoid cool pink shades which will only draw out your natural redness. Instead, choose warm peach or brown tones.

*Giorgio Armani cosmetics are available at Brown Thomas Dublin (01-6056666) , Brown Thomas Cork (Tel: 021-4805555) and Dublin Airport. Telephone ordering available from Brown Thomas counters (postage and packaging fee applies).

I hope that this information is beneficial. If anyone else has any tips, be sure to share them with us!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Lip Service

Did you know that last Tuesday, 6th July, was National Kissing day in the UK? Which got me a-thinking about the best lip salves for curing and preventing chapped lips. Here are some of my favourites:

Prices quoted are for the Republic of Ireland and were correct at time of publication.

Best for Daily Use – Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner (€3.57 for 7ml)
Soothing, conditioning and long-lasting, this lip balm is ideal for everyday use. It contains key moisturising ingredients including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, aloe vera and collagen, as well as an SPF15 which will protect your lips from the sun’s harmful rays.

Best for Repairing Extreme Damage– La Roche Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream (€15 for 15ml)
Especially formulated for severely dry or sensitive lips, this soothing ointment will gently restore your lips back to full health.

Best Natural Product – Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (€3.95 for 8.5g)
Made purely from natural products (including lanolin, sunflower oil and coconut oil) this non-greasy formula offers instant relief to damaged lips. It also contains peppermint oil which gives a refreshing minty scent and tingling feeling!

Best for Preventing Damage – Vaseline Lip Therapy Petroleum Jelly (€1.09 for 20g)
Vaseline Lip Therapy has been used for donkeys’ years as a barrier against harsh elements and is still a market favourite today. With four variations now available – Original, Aloe Vera, Sun Protection and Rosy Lips – you’re bound to find a favourite.

Best All-Rounder – Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream (€30 for 50ml)
Not only does 8-Hour Cream act as an excellent lip salve, it also gives rapid and effective relief to dry skin, abrasions, rashes and burns. Furthermore, it has many cosmetic uses, serving equally well as a lip gloss, highlighting cream, brow gel and lash-thickener!

Now, get kissing!

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Treating Sunburn

Okay, I know I regularly dole out lectures here on importance of preventing sunburn; however, there are a heck of a lot of people walking around my locality with pink and peeling skin today, so I think it’s high time that I did a post advising what to do if you are caught out by sunburn:

• Stay out of the sun until the redness disappears.
• Drink loads of water.
• Take paracetemol for pain relief.
• Apply Aloe Vera liberally and regularly to the affected areas.
• Seek the advice of a qualified pharmacist if the damage is particularly uncomfortable.
• Once your skin has begun to recover and is no longer sore to touch, apply a hydrating cream.
• A cool compress or cold shower (with only mild water pressure) might give some relief.
• If you experience blistering, headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, fainting or vomiting, seek medical attention immediately.

The Irish Cancer Society has an excellent website called Sun Smart, which is packed with tips and advice, including a “how sunsmart are you?” quiz. It’s well worth a look.

As always though, prevention is better than cure, so please try and avoid getting sunburn if you can at all. Remember, sunburn – whether mild or serious – causes permanent damage.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Heat Rash (Prickly Heat)

Hi Everyone,

Pardon the tumbleweed blowing around on this page – I’ve been on a much-treasured holiday for the past fortnight, with blogging being the last thing on my mind. Normal service resumes today…although, it’s not quite normal for me to be outside with the laptop, basking in the sunshine!

On the topic of sunshine, we’re having something akin to an Indian Summer in Ireland at the moment, and as regular readers will know, protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays is one of my pet topics. Skin Cancer is the most prevalent form of Cancer on these shores so it’s imperativethat you protect your skin during the current heatwave.

A Prickly Subject

A related topic which is getting under my skin at the moment is that of “Heat Rash” (otherwise known as “prickly heat”). As someone who has suffered from heat rash for years, it’s a topic close to my heart. And I’m not alone – Irish people are particularly prone to this condition as we have pale, sensitive skin, which is not typically exposed to heat/sun/humidity.

Causes of Heat Rash

Heat Rash is caused by a blockage of the sweat glands, which causes the skin to break out into an unsightly rash of tiny red bumps. It is usually prompted by exposure to humid weather is the cause and can develop very suddenly.

Symptoms

The degree of discomfort varies from person to person; however, it’s common to feel an itchy or ‘stinging’ sensation. The skin will develop a rash, consisting of tiny red bumps. Mild fever and fatigue are commonly associated.

How to Treat Heat Rash

• Keep your skin cool: Wear light and loose clothing, drink plenty of cool drinks, take a cool shower, reside in an air-conditioned environment or stay in the shade as much as possible etc. If the rash is particularly bad, cool compresses can help.
• Wear Natural Fabrics: Avoid wearing clothing with synthetic fibres and instead go for natural fabrics such as cotton or linen.
• Wear Suncream: If you are exposing yourself to the sun, ensure that you use an allergy-sensitive suncream. My favourite is Piz Buin Allergy.
• Calamine Lotion: Calamine Lotion can soothe the skin, but needs to be reapplied regularly.
• Medication: Antihistamine tablets can work effectively in alleviating the symptoms of Heat Rash. Be sure to contact your GP before taking any medication.
• Avoid Scratching: As much as it might drive you demented, avoid scratching the skin, as this will only aggravate the condition.
• Products to Avoid: Avoid applying products the skin that will aggravate the sensitivity e.g. perfumed lotions, sprays etc. Avoid products that will further prevent sweating e.g. anti-perspirant deodorants, oil-based creams etc.
• Vitamins: Incorporate foods that are rich in Vitamins A and C into your diet.

Heat Rash must be watched carefully. If the symptoms exacerbate or if the patient develops high fever, dizziness, nausea, confusion, weakness etc., then seek medical attention immediately.

Yours in style,
Caroline

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Beauty Therapy @ Pery Square

I mentioned in my Maybelline 24-Hour Foundation review last week that I’ve noticed a change in my skin of late. Curiously, it seems to have transformed from ‘nice and normal’ to ‘combination contrary’. I suspect that this change has something to do with the current ‘all work and no play’ mantra at Style By Caroline HQ (due to a few exciting style projects in the pipeline!); so, as a treat to myself, I decided to take some time out of the office this week for some beauty therapy.

And what could be more therapeutic than an indulgent Aromathérapie facial at my beloved Spa @ No.1 Pery Square! Aromathérapie is a range of gentle, natural skincare products, developed by a Limerick Lady, Moira Geary. These hand-blended oils not only cleanse, soothe and smooth the skin, they also have delicious scents with therapeutic properties.

Today was the first time that I’ve experienced Aromathérapie products and I must say I’m impressed. My skin feels great and has that elusive ‘healthy glow’ that it certainly didn’t have beforehand. I’m particularly taken by the fact that it’s a local brand, using 100% natural ingredients and that the products are not tested on animals. I will definitely purchase some products for use at home and I have already booked in for my next facial in a month’s time.

Elsewhere, the service at The Spa @ Pery Square was, as always, superb. Despite the fact that I’m sure I must be the worst kind of client – all talk, and worse still, all questions - The Lovely Therapist happily indulged my chatter and shared many beauty tips with me. In fact, her advice was so prudent that I think it must be shared:

• Drink 2 litres of water EVERY day.
• Cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning and evening.
• Remove your cleanser with a muslin cloth (available from The Body Shop) soaked in warm water.
• Massage your face every day, paying particular attention to accupressure points where the body can store tension (in between the eyebrows, underneath the cheekbones).
• Protect your face daily with a minimum SPF15.
• Avoid treating spots with the likes of Sudocreme or toothpaste. Instead, dab spots and blemishes with a blend of 1-part tea-tree oil and 1-part lavender essential oil.
• Use appropriate mask twice a week (in my case a clay mask as I have combination skin. If you have drier skin, choose a hydrating mask).
• Use an exfoliating product twice a week.
• Go for a facial every 4 weeks.
• Try and get a minimum of 8 hours sleep every night.
• Ensure that you take time out every day to relax.
  

Hope this information is of benefit. Don’t be shy in sharing your skincare tips in the comment box below and, as always, if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to ask!

Yours in style,
Caroline

SPF & Moisturiser

Following on from my previous blog post on prevention of Skin Cancer, a lady contacted me seeking advice regarding sunscreen for the face. She advised that she has found a moisturiser that she loves; however, it doesn't contain an SPF. She didn't want to go to the bother of finding a new 'perfect' moisturiser, yet she didn't want to expose her skin to the sun's dangerous rays.

This is a common dilemma as, remarkably, many moisturisers - even the best sellers - don't contain an SPF. Given that Ireland's most common cancer is skin cancer, it seems remarkable that cosmetic companies aren't offering more products with an SPF.

Back to the question, there are two main solutions available:

1. Apply a sunscreen to your face under your moisturiser (ensure that it has a minimum SPF15 and is especially formulated for the face).
2. Use a foundation with an in-built SPF.
3. Mix a 'sunscreen supplement' in with your moisturiser (see review below).

Caroline Recommends:

My favourite facial SPF product comes from Dermalogica; it is called a Solar Defence Booster and it is a 'sunscreen supplement', with an SPF30.

The product has been designed as a 'mixer' for moisturisers that don't already contain an SPF. It is a cinch to use; simply mix equal parts of Solar Defence Booster and your favourite moisturiser together, and apply to your face as normal.

It takes little time for the product to soak in and once it does, it leaves a non-greasy, smooth finish, and most importantly, your face is protected against the sun's harmful rays. The product can also be used on it's own as a sunblock and is suitable for all skin types.

Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster retails at €24.80 on http://www.kudosbeauty.ie/.

Don't forget also that your lips also need protection from the sun. I highly recommend Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner (€3.57) or Vaseline Lip Therapy Sun Protection Petroleum Jelly (€1.09), which are both extremely effective lip balms.

Hope this information helps. Remember, if you have a style query, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me via my website, http://www.stylebycaroline.ie/.

Yours in style,
Caroline

Prevent Skin Cancer

Did you know that Skin Cancer is the most common Cancer in Ireland?

No? neither did I. I was enlightened to this fact just yesterday during an interview I heard with RTE television presenter, Dr. Mark Hamilton.

When asked as to why there is little awareness of this statistic, Dr. Hamilton reported that the success rate for treatment Skin Cancer is excellent (provided that there is early diagnosis) which might explain why it receives less attention by the population than other Cancers. However, this fact shouldn't give us room for complacency. As with any illness, prevention is better than cure and it is critical that we look after our skin to as to help reduce the risk of developing Skin Cancer.

The causes of Skin Cancer are many and varied; however, they mainly derive from exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays. As Irish people typically have very fair skin, we must go to extra lengths to ensure that we protect against Skin Cancer.

• Apply sunscreen on exposed skin daily.
• Use a minimum SPF15 daily (increase the SPF as the temperature gets higher).
• Ensure that your sunscreen is in date (throw out the bottle in the cupboard left over from last year's holiday's)
• Never, ever apply a product that accelerates tanning. Remember, a tan is actually sunburn.
• Never use sunbeds.
• If you notice any changes in your skin (lumps, bumps, sores that don't heal, moles that change colour / shape / size etc.) consult your GP.

For further information on this topic, visit www.cancer.ie.

Yours in style,
Caroline

My Desert Island Product...

I'm regularly asked what is my favourite beauty product. Which, to me, is like having to choose my favourite sibling. Not an easy task!

If I was forced to choose one however, it would have to be...

My brother.

Only joking sis! *Chuckle*

Being serious, if I was forced to choose a product it be Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm.




Strictly speaking, this is an eye cream. However, I also use it on my forehead frown lines and around my lips too in an attempt to stall the aging process.

5 reasons why I like it:

• It smells gorgeous
• It leaves the skin feeling improbably smooth.
• A little goes a long way.
• It can be used on all skin types.
• It can be used effectively under make-up.

I'm beginning to wonder whether I'm actually addicted to the stuff. God forbid I should run out of it, I have a spare tube in my car...and my desk...and my bedside locker...and my bathroom...and my make-up kit. Alas, it's quite the expensive addiction too as each tube retails in salons at €40 a pop! Thankfully, you can buy it cheaper online ; for example, Irish website http://www.kudosbeauty.ie/ retails it at €29.68 with 2-day delivery in RoI (plus you get lots of lovely free samples!).

Tell us what your favourite product is.

Yours in style,
Caroline

Is your Skin Dry, Tight, Flaky or Itchy?

If so, it's no wonder! Given that we've spent the last couple of months cooped up with the central heating on full blast, it's no wonder that our skin is parched. Now that the weather is improving, it's time to give our lacklustre skin a bit of much-needed TLC.

GENERAL SKINCARE RULES

• Drink at least 2 litres of water per day.
• Cleanse, tone and moisturise your face every morning and evening.
• Use products that are specifically designed for your age and skin type.
• Assess your skin type every 6 months and adapt your products if necessary.
• Always wear an SPF (minimum SPF15).
• Avoid cleansing wipes (they're laced with alcohol and strip your skin of essential moisture).
• Treat your skin once a week with a suitable face mask (e.g. clay mask for oily skin, moisturising mask for dry skin etc.)
• Avoid abrasive exfoliating products; instead, gently exfoliate your skin 1-2 times a week using a small bit of cleanser on a clean, damp facecloth.

CLEANSING ROUTINE

Step 1: Remove Eye Make-up
Apply a generous amount of eye make-up remover to a cotton pad and hold it to your eye for 20 seconds to disolve the eye make-up. Wipe away and repeat as necessary. Use separate clean cotton pads for each eye.

Step 2: Cleanse
Choose a cleanser that suits your skin-type (dry skin = cream cleanser, normal skin = milk cleanser, oily skin = gel cleanser). Massage the cleanser onto your skin using damp cotton pads or a damp facecloth and rinse clean with water.

Step 3: Tone
Choose a toner that suits your skin type (dry skin = rose water / non-alcohol toner, normal skin = rose water / non-alcohol toner, oily skin = alcohol toner) and apply to the face with cotton pads.

Step 4: Moisturise
Choose a moisturiser that suits your skin type (dry/normal skin = oil-based moisturiser, oily skin = oil-free moisturiser). Using your fingertips, massage your face and neck with the product.

Step 5: Eye Cream
If you are over the age of 25, you should be wearing an eye cream. Tap the product underneath the eye and outward towards the temples, very gently, using the pad of your index finger.

Step 6: Lip Balm
Apply a lip balm to your lips to prevent chapped lips.

RECOMMENDED SKINCARE WEBSITES

• http://www.kudosbeauty.ie/
• http://www.hqhair.com/
• http://www.skinstore.com/
• http://www.strawberrynet.com/
• http://www.adonisgrooming.com/

Yours in style,
Caroline